This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6297767.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Crane barges sail to Napoli's aid | Crane barges sail to Napoli's aid |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two specialist crane barges are sailing from the Netherlands to join the operation to salvage the cargo of beached container ship MSC Napoli. | |
| They will start lifting the remaining 2,394 containers off the ship, grounded off Sidmouth, east Devon, on Saturday. | They will start lifting the remaining 2,394 containers off the ship, grounded off Sidmouth, east Devon, on Saturday. |
| A team of 20 is working round the clock to pump oil from the ship. The 200 tonnes which had leaked into the sea has now been treated. | A team of 20 is working round the clock to pump oil from the ship. The 200 tonnes which had leaked into the sea has now been treated. |
| Managers of the vessel said they were making "rapid progress". | |
| Graphic: The MSC Napoli | Graphic: The MSC Napoli |
| Zodiac Maritime Agencies, based in London, said one third of the fuel had been removed from the Napoli by 0800 GMT on Thursday. | |
| A sheen of leaked fuel, which had been several kilometres long and 30 metres wide, has also been treated with dispersant. | |
| But two of the ship's fuel tanks remain under water and it could take another week for all the fuel to be pumped to a second vessel, officials said. | But two of the ship's fuel tanks remain under water and it could take another week for all the fuel to be pumped to a second vessel, officials said. |
| It will be a careful and slow operation MCA spokesman | It will be a careful and slow operation MCA spokesman |
| A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the ship's remaining containers will be removed in priority order. | A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the ship's remaining containers will be removed in priority order. |
| The process, which could take five months to complete, was likened to a game of Jenga - removing wooden blocks without toppling the pile. | |
| An MCA spokesman added: "It will be a careful and slow operation." | An MCA spokesman added: "It will be a careful and slow operation." |
| Lost containers | Lost containers |
| The 62,000-tonne MSC Napoli, which was holed in storms on 18 January, was run aground following "serious structural failure". | The 62,000-tonne MSC Napoli, which was holed in storms on 18 January, was run aground following "serious structural failure". |
| Hundreds of scavengers descended on the beach at Branscombe after 50 of the ship's containers washed ashore. | Hundreds of scavengers descended on the beach at Branscombe after 50 of the ship's containers washed ashore. |
| Beachcombers took away goods that included BMW motorbikes, wine, face cream and nappies. | Beachcombers took away goods that included BMW motorbikes, wine, face cream and nappies. |
| The MCA has warned the public not to touch any other containers which may drift ashore. | The MCA has warned the public not to touch any other containers which may drift ashore. |
| Maritime experts believe structural damage to the Napoli caused it to start 'hogging' The weakened hull causes a ship's bow and stern to sagThe effect is made worse by rough seas | Maritime experts believe structural damage to the Napoli caused it to start 'hogging' The weakened hull causes a ship's bow and stern to sagThe effect is made worse by rough seas |
| Senior coastguard Derek Smith said the Receiver of Wreck was now requiring salvage to be surrendered on the spot. | Senior coastguard Derek Smith said the Receiver of Wreck was now requiring salvage to be surrendered on the spot. |
| He said: "We do not want people to break containers open - they will make a mess and they will not be allowed to take anything away from the beach. | He said: "We do not want people to break containers open - they will make a mess and they will not be allowed to take anything away from the beach. |
| "If they fail to comply with the instructions of the receiver they could be arrested by the police." | "If they fail to comply with the instructions of the receiver they could be arrested by the police." |
| The ship's managers said 103 of its containers were lost from the vessel during the storms, although 70 had now been accounted for. | The ship's managers said 103 of its containers were lost from the vessel during the storms, although 70 had now been accounted for. |
| A further 33 are being hunted using specialist sonar equipment. | |
| Hazardous materials, including perfume, pesticides and batteries, were being transported in 157 containers. | Hazardous materials, including perfume, pesticides and batteries, were being transported in 157 containers. |
| Bird fears | Bird fears |
| There are still fears thousands of seabirds could have been affected by the leaked oil. | There are still fears thousands of seabirds could have been affected by the leaked oil. |
| About 1,000 birds have been rescued since the ship was deliberately grounded a mile off Branscombe to prevent it breaking up in deep water after suffering structural damage during storms on 17 January. | About 1,000 birds have been rescued since the ship was deliberately grounded a mile off Branscombe to prevent it breaking up in deep water after suffering structural damage during storms on 17 January. |
| Royal Society for the Protection of Birds spokeswoman Sophie Atherton said it was difficult to determine exactly how many birds had been caught in the slick. | Royal Society for the Protection of Birds spokeswoman Sophie Atherton said it was difficult to determine exactly how many birds had been caught in the slick. |
| She said: "For every oiled bird ashore, there could be up to 10 times that number at sea." | She said: "For every oiled bird ashore, there could be up to 10 times that number at sea." |
| The Marine Conservation Society said it was satisfied that everything was being done to clear up after the Napoli. | The Marine Conservation Society said it was satisfied that everything was being done to clear up after the Napoli. |
| A decision will be made whether to re-float the ship after all the oil and containers have been removed. | A decision will be made whether to re-float the ship after all the oil and containers have been removed. |
| MSC NAPOLI | MSC NAPOLI |